Informal Learning Projects and World Wide Voluntary Co-Mentoring

Abstract

This article seeks to explore the potential of online communities to support and develop new professional-development practices around collaborative mentoring and informal learning projects. This study seeks to address the following research hypotheses. 1. Informal learning can be utilised as a developmental approach in an online open environment. 2. Online communities can learn from involvement with informal learning projects and they can support the development of a community history and identity. 3. Online communities can be effective in supporting informal learning projects. 4. Informal learning can be a vehicle for crossing borders related to lifelong learning (namely those of time, culture, religion, geographical distance, different jobs, and careers)